High-profile musician takes on Liberal leader for Greens in northern N.B. byelection
Serge Brideau will run in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore, where PCs are not fielding candidate
Serge Brideau of the folk-rock band Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire confirmed he will be nominated for the Greens in the April 24 contest in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore.
It's one of three byelections on that date and it gives Holt, who is from Fredericton, a chance to get into the New Brunswick legislature.
But Brideau said the Liberals take the votes of francophones and Acadians for granted, and he plans to challenge Holt on her party's track record when it was in power.
Liberal
Leader Susan Holt, who will be running in Bathurst
East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore, said it was hard to say whether Brideau’s
profile would make it harder for her to win the seat. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
"I have a lot of questions and I'm really curious to see what kind of answers Madame Holt is going to give me in terms of the past of the Liberals," he said.
"The inaction of the Liberals is the reason people are dying in the waiting rooms of emergency rooms. The inaction of the Liberals is the cause of many of our problems today."
The Progressive Conservatives aren't running a candidate against Holt, making Brideau her most credible opponent.
The singer is critical of how PC and Liberal governments, and Holt, have encouraged the development of a blueberry industry in the Acadian Peninsula.
He's been part of protests over sections of a former firing range near Tracadie, now used by snowmobilers and four-wheeler drivers, being turned over for blueberry farming.
Brideau became notorious in 2019 when he flashed a middle finger and criticized Premier Blaine Higgs with improvised song lyrics during a nationally televised National Acadian Day concert.
The singer, who later became a board member and vice-president of the Acadian Society of New Brunswick, said he'd avoid that kind of behaviour as an MLA.
"I was an artist. I was not representing anybody but my band. Those actions were taken as an artist, as a provocation," he said.
"I do understand that there's a away of doing politics that I was not aware of before. … I understand that if you want to push forward an issue, there's a way of speaking to politicians and a way of negotiating. I don't think the assembly is a circus, and I certainly respect the assembly."
Holt said it was hard to say whether Brideau's profile would make it harder for her to win the seat.
"We're going to work hard to earn the confidence of people here," she said.
Three byelections will be held on April 24 in three ridings with strong Liberal histories: Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore, Restigouche-Chaleur and Dieppe.
The NDP's interim leader, Alex White of Saint John, is also running in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
"I don't think the assembly is a circus, and I certainly respect the assembly."
Methinks somebody has read a few of my comments N'esy Pas?
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You know who I’m talking about.
most focused on.
Blueberries and (jobs ) or the rights of snowmobilers and
four-Wheelers to have space to run their machines.
One would think there are more important issues .....
but here we are.
"Leave it to the Green party to actually field a candidate that makes Holt look good in comparison."
the better...
Reply to Sam Smithers
Reply to Al Clark
Maybe it has more to do with the leader.
And it'd be just as effective !!
Anyways, good on him for putting himself forward and supporting our political system….such as it is.
Our system doesn’t work when parties don’t put forward any candidates.
agreed there are many who would vote for a lampshade if it ran -- red or blue but more importantly you are correct in saying the Conservatives should have someone running -at least a name on the ballet. People should feel represented and the Conservatives are suppose to be a party for all NB.
My friend Dr Roger Richard has lots to offer. However the top of my list is the fact that he is right leaning person who conducts himself with Integrity. He is also a very Proud Acadian who has ran twice as an Independent against the former SANB President who is the outspoken Green Party dude where he lives.
He’s not even a politician, just an activist and musician from the region.
Can’t make changes to the system if you aren’t part of the system.
Has this guy been fully vetted, I think not. Just what the Green Party needs, not.
Serge Brideau will represent the Green Party of New Brunswick in the Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore by-election
Pont-Landry – This Tuesday evening at 6 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Pont-Landry, Serge Brideau will be formally presented as the candidate for the Green Party of NB in the Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore riding.
“People here want a strong voice for the North, someone who understands the issues, has extensive field experience and who will stand up for their constituency. That voice is Serge Brideau,” said David Coon, Leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick.
"If people grant me the privilege of representing them after April 24, they can expect someone who will fight as hard for them as Kevin Arseneau does for Kent North," said Serge Brideau.
Beyond his artistic career as singer for the rock group “Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire”, Serge Brideau was a paramedic for nearly 10 years. “When COVID-19 hit, Serge wasted no time getting to the front line, becoming a care worker in nursing homes. He saw the urgency to help, and he put the interests of vulnerable people first,” notes Kevin Arseneau, MLA for Kent North. “He is hard working and tireless. This is the kind of person we need in the Legislative Assembly,” added Arseneau.
"My campaign slogan is 'let's be real', to give people a real voice, a real choice in this election. No one should take the people of Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore for granted. On April 24th, I hope to be able to earn their trust,” said Serge Brideau.
Serge Brideau was a trade unionist, sat on the boards of numerous community organizations and is one of the leaders in the conservation of the former firing range (army camp) in Tracadie.
Serge Brideau | serge.brideau@greenpartynb.ca | 506-878-1423
Claire Kelly-Orozco | claire.kelly-orozco@greenpartynb.ca | 506-229-6409
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